Phonograph



Nov. 1, 1927.

I F. n. ARNOLD,

PHONOGRAPH Filed May 24, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 1, 1927. 1,647,389

F. D. ARNOLD PHONOGRAPH Filed May 24. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' 1 J modified form, in which the inner and outer Patented Nov. 1, 1927. V

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK D. ARNOLD, OF HUMBOLDT, IOWA.

IPHONOGRAPH.

Application fi'led ma 24, 1921'. Serial No. 472,058.

This invention relates to phonographs, and more specifically to animproved megaphone or sound amplifier for use in connecti on with phonographs.

One object of this invention is to greatly increase the volume of sound directed into the megaphone, while preserving tone .and melody.

A further object is to provide an improved megaphone of this character which can be applied either internally or externallyof a phonograph cabinet, and is attachable to phonographs of different kinds and sizes.

A further object is to provide a combination of strings, bridges, sounding posts and sounding bars in. connection with a megaphone, for improving the effects of the megaphone, by equalizing or balancing the tone. Other objects and advantages Wlll be pointed out orimplied in the following details of description, in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front View of a cabinet-phonograph including a megaphone constructed in accordance with the present invention, a

' portionof the cabinet being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the cabinet-phonograph shown in Fig. 1, the sections of the cabinet and megaphone being taken. in different planes, the front end of the megaphone being a full side elevation.

Fig. 3 illustrates a modified form of megaphone in connection with a horn or sound passage of an ordinary phonograph.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of another horns are polygonal in cross sections,

Fig. 5 illustrates another modified form of polygonal megaphones.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modified .5 form of sounding bar.

Referring to these drawings in detail, in which similar reference characters correspond with similar parts throughout the several views the invention consistsiin the construction, arrangement and combination of lows:

parts, as will now be. fully described as fol- Referring to Figs. .1 and 2, a phonograph cabinet is indicated at 10, the same being provided with a doorway or front opening 11 the door being omitted, although a door may be provided for closing the openingall. The. motoraboxis indicated at:12; the record-table, at'13; the sound-arm, at 14; and the reproducer, at 15. a

The' sound-arm communicates in the usual manner with the interior of the cabinet, and

constitutes a portion of the sound passage,

the remaining portlon of the sound passage being indicated at 16. This tubular body 16 communicates with the interior of a horn or megaphone 17, the latter having its rear end fitted in that of an outer megaphone 18. The front end of the outer megaphone extends a considerable distance beyond the front end of the inner-megaphone. In other.

words, the inner megaphone extends forward in the outer megaphone and terminates in the intermediate portion of the latter, so that when the sound-waves passfrom' the inner .megaphone, they are received by the outer mega-phone and thereby amplified or intensified. The forward and major portions of the inner megaphone are spaced from the outer megaphone, and sound-posts 19 extend from the inner to the outer mega-- phones so as to hold them in their spaced relation and also assist in amplifying the sound.

A series of bridges or sounding bars 20 is arranged around the external periphery of the outer megaphone, preferably adjacent to the front ends; although it is within the scope of this invention to place the bridges at any preferred position on the inner or outer megaphone, or upon any single megaphone. Any appropriate number of musicstrings 21' are supported on the bridges 20, 2 Y

and these strings can. be stretched to any degree of- ,tautness" by any appropriate means, so as to properly attune. At 221 have indicated one means of stretching or vided, as indicated at 26, to providean'air I tight joint between the horns 25 and 17 thus preventing any harshor rattling sounds to be caused by the attachment of the mega-; phone to, the horn 25. The outer mega-v phone 18 has its. rear ends fittedaround supporting arm 27 may be provided with an opening 28 through which a string, hook, rod or other support can be passed." The arm 27 is bent forward so that the aperture 28 is substantially over the Center of gravity of the megaphone, and when suspended from the arm 27 the me 'a hone assumes the u I u 7 u b u I. position illustrated in F 1g. 2. The bridges 20 and 20 may be of any appropriate form,

height, etc., according to the shape and size of the megaphone on which they are seated. Moreover, there may be any appropriate number of such brie ges as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, eight of the bridges are seated on a megaphone which is circular in cross section, and. in Fig. 3, 81K of such bridges are seated on a circular megaphone (three.

of the six bridges being on the half section which isnot shown) i Figs. 5i and 5 illustrate how the music strings 21 are applied on the angles or coi nersof the megaphone which are polygonal in cross section, that is, on bridges 2O which n are notched at their bases so as to straddle the-orners129which are formed by the r eetin'g edges of the angular plates which forinithe outeninegaphone.

In 3 is shown two SGIlGSOf sounding bars 3'2, 1nthe inner and outer megaphones,

respectively; These sounding bars may be plain and of wood, metal or other appropriate material; or they may each beo'i con bined materials asshow'n'in' F 6 where the bar 32 has an appropriate music-string 33 stretched thereon and a bridge 3% which is mounted on the bar Although K have shown the sounding bars adjacent to the sounding posts and bridges, and in only one figure of the drawings, itis obvious that they are applicable to' other' partsthe megaphones', either internal or;external or both, o t'any or all embodiments of my invent-ion.

' Although I have shown the soundingposts tion' betweenthe inner and outer inegaphones,

In Fig. 4 the outer megaphone is indicated at;18",and the inner megaphone at 17 the rear ends of these megaphones being united where indicated by dotted lines at 30. Li tewise, in Fig. 5, the outer megaphone 18 v and inner megaphone l?- are united where indicated by'ydotted lines at 30. The major portions ofthe inner andouter megaphones in all-forms of the invention, are spaced" froinone another and provided with sounding posts 19.

It'is not intended to limit this invention tojthe exact construction and arrangement of parts as described and illustrated, but changes may be made within the scope oi the inventive lClBEIS as claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1.- The combination of a horn, bridges on the exterior of said horn, and musical strings stretched on said bridges, each string ex tending transversely substantially around the exterior of said horn.

" 2. The' combination of a horn, a second horn having its rear smaller end fitted close,- ly in that of the first horn and projecting forward, the forward and major portions of the "inner horn being spaced from the interior-surface of the outer horn, and sounding posts extending from the outer horn to :the inner horn.

' 8. The combination of a horn, bridges on the exterior of said horn, and resonant strings stretched on said bridges, each string extending transversely substantially around the exterior of said horn, a second horn ha *ing its rear end secured in that of the first horn andhaving its forward and major portions spaced from the outer horn and connected therewith by means o fsounding posts. 7 A

d. A horn structure comprising inner and outerhorns, bridges associated with one of i said horns, and music strings spread onthe bridges and extending transversely of the hor rcarrying the'loridges. i o

5. In a phonograph having a cabinet provided witha sound passage, and having a iront'opening;; the combination of a horn in said cabinet having its rear end in cominuni-cation' with said sound passage, said horn" extending toward said opening, a series of bridges extending around and seated onthe exterior ofsaid horn, and a musical string stretched on said bridges and extendin substantially around the periphery of said horn. c 7 7' I w I 6. The-combination of'a pair of. horns, bridges on'on'eof the horns, musical'strings stretched around one of said horns and supported by said bridges, and sounding posts connecting said horns so the vibrations of one horn will be transmitted to the other. v

'7.-In' a sound amplifying horn, an outer tapering ho'rn' and an inner tapering horn, the latter fitting tightly within the smaller end Of-tlldfOlliiGI' and extending forwardly toward the larger end thereof, sound posts interposed between and connecting the "said,

on oiie i'offthelhorns and resonant strings stretched taut on said bridges.

In a sound amplifying horn, an outer tapering horn and an inner taperinghorn, thei latter fitting tightly within the smaller end otthezformer, and extending forwardly toward the larger end thereof, bridges mounted on one of the horns, and resonant strings stretched taut on said bridges.

9. In a sound amplifying horn, an outer tapering horn and an inner tapering horn,

the latter fitting tightly within the smaller end of'the former and extending forwardly toward the larger end thereof, bridges arranged transversely around the larger end of the horn, and resonant strings, stretched taut on said bridges and extending transversely around said larger end.

10. In a sound amplifying horn, an outer tapering horn and an inner tapering horn, the latter fitting tightly Within the smaller end of the former and extending forwardly toward the larger end thereof, sound posts interposed between and connecting the said horns so that vibrations from one horn are transmitted to the other, bridges arranged transversely around the larger end of the horn ,and' resonant strings stretched taut on said bridges and extending transversely around said larger end.

11. In a structure of the character described, an amplifying horn, bridges spaced.

around the mouth thereof, resonating strings extending transversely around the horn and resting on the bridges, pin supporting means mounted on the horn, and tuning pins mounted and movable in the supporting means.

12. In a sound amplifier, in combination, a pair of substantially co-axial tapering horns, the main portion of one being contained within the other and the two closely inter-fitting adjacent their smaller ends and resonating members carried by the larger end of one of said horns.

13. In a sound amplifier, in combination, a pair of substantially coaxial tapering horns, the main portion of one being contained within the other and the two closely interfitting adjacent their smaller ends, and sounding posts around the larger end. of the inner horn, said posts connecting the two horns.

14. In a sound amplifier, in combination,

a pair of substantially co-axial tapering horns, the main portion of. one being contained within the other and the two closely inter-fitting adjacent their smaller ends, the free end of the outer horn extending some distance beyond the free end of the inner, so that part of the sound waves emitted at the free end of the inner may strike the outer and cause vibration thereof, and resonating means carried by the free end of said outer horn.

15. In a structure of the character de scribed, an amplifying horn, bridges spaced around the mouth thereof, resonating strings extending transversely around the'horn and resting on the bridges, an inner horn spaced from the outer horn and connected therewith by posts to cause simultaneous vibration of the two horns and the strings.

16. A horn structure comprising inner and outer horns,bridgesassociated with one of said horns, musical strings stretched on the bridges and extending transversely of the and cooperating therewith and with the horn to amplify sound vibrations passing there-.

through. I a

' In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

. FRANK 13. ARNOLD.

.7 horn carrying the bridges, and posts con 7 

